- Congregation Beth El–Keser Israel
85 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1724 | P: 203.389.2108 | office@beki.org
85 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1724 | P: 203.389.2108 | office@beki.org
…. Many people have heard that the potential convert is turned away three times, in order to ensure that only the truly determined succeed in their quest. But as a rabbi who guides many converts, I don’t do that, because I find that when, upon further study and experience with the real Jewish world, candidates encounter plenty of realities that would turn them off, and turn them away. The realities are harsh enough to sober the greatest idealists…
…31 Jul Memorial for Shula Chernoff July 31, 2022 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Events Home Page Shulamith “Shula” Chernoff, a beloved BEKI member who died last spring, will be remembered at a memorial celebration on Sunday, July 31 at noon at […] More Info…
…about our main sanctuary. For all these reasons, I believe that now is the time to redesign our main sanctuary to better reflect who we are. Two options: spend money or invest money. We can either spend money to make repairs piecemeal and end up with the same sanctuary we have now. Or we can invest money in a holistic approach and make the space suitable for our current and future needs. The second approach will cost incrementally more, but we can…
…p Friday 7:00a 6:00p Shabbat 9:15a Minchah/Maariv During Daylight Saving Time months (March through October), minchah and maariv services are recited weeknights at 5:45p. During Standard Time months (November through February), only maariv is recited at 5:45p, finishing before 6:00p rather than 6:15p. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, only minchah is recited. Every day, the yahrzeit lists are read for the day departing as well as the next day arr…
…and the weak response to those groups by some US political leaders. It is time for all political leaders to unequivocally denounce such beliefs and behaviors. As we remember each Passover, our people’s historical experience reminds us that every generation must respond to the challenge of bigotry and rise to the defense of freedom. The basis for democracy stems from the Torah’s belief that every person is created equally in God’s image and is the…
…films such as “The Green Mile,” which is a replay of the crucifixion, this time with a miracle-working black man who is sentenced to death in the electric chair. As Lenny Bruce once said, if the story had taken place in the 20th century, Christians would be wearing little electric chair pendants around their necks. But the movie does not develop those themes – it is merely an unending graphic display of human suffering, and if it is accurate, it w…
…yone Conservative or Orthodox would be anachronistic. It wasn’t until some time later that the Orthodox and Conservative Movements were formally constituted with platforms and institutions. The Conservative Movement is both the newest and the oldest movement. Of the three major movements in America — Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative — the Conservative Movement was the last to be formally constituted, in the 1880s. It was formed by religious and…
…pronunciation of the tetragrammaton may have been widely known in biblical times since it was revealed to Moses and the priests. I think the punishment for the blasphemer is so great because the blasphemer is misusing his gift of speech. God gave people speech to worship Him, and to elevate Man above the level of the beasts. Speech should not be used to curse God, and the blasphemer abused this privilege. I do think Moses knew that the punishment…
…nity or the punishments imposed. Bilaam tries to curse the Israelites four times, but each time, a blessing comes out of his mouth. It’s kind of odd that Bilaam is not a hero in our tradition– no children are ever named for him – and he is reviled later in BaMidbar, 31:16, as an enemy. Still, he had nice things to say – despite himself. I want to look at part of Bilaam’s first utterance, because it came true in Jewish history, and raises some very…
…time to be with their families in these stress-filled ’90s. They put their time in at the shul, but it’s in mixed forums, which, after all, mirror their work-places. They may simply be from a different line, men of a different line of thought, a different world-view. And if there are no sons, to whom does the inheritance pass? I turn to Numbers Chapter 27, from parshat Pinchas. “The daughters of Zeloph’chad, of Manassite family…they stood before M…
